Windows Presentation Foundation Host (PresentationHost.exe)

Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) Host (PresentationHost.exe) is the application that enables WPF applications to be hosted in compatible browsers (including Windows Internet Explorer 7 and Microsoft Internet Explorer 6). By default, Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) Host is registered as the shell and MIME handler for browser-hosted WPF content, which includes:

  • Loose (uncompiled) XAML files (.xaml).

  • XAML browser application (XBAP) (.xbap).

For files of these types, Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) Host:

  • Launches the registered HTML handler to host the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) content.

  • Loads the right versions of the required common language runtime (CLR) and Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) assemblies.

  • Ensures the appropriate permission levels for the zone of deployment are in place.

This topic describes the command line parameters that can be used with PresentationHost.exe.

Usage

PresentationHost.exe [parameters] uri|filename

Parameters

Parameter Description

filename

The path of the file to be activated. Can also be a URI.

-debug

When activating an application, does not commit it to or run it from the store. This only works when a local file is activated.

-debugSecurityZoneURL <url>

Used with a URL value to indicate to PresentationHost.exe that an application should be debugged as if it were deployed from the specified URL. This determines both the deployment zone and the site of origin.

-embedding

Required by OLE. If the -event or -debug parameter are specified, it is not necessary to specify the -embedding parameter, since that parameter is set internally.

-event <eventname>

Open the event with this name and signal it when PresentationHost.exe is initialized and ready to host WPF content. PresentationHost.exe will terminate if there was an error opening the event, such as if it has not already been created.

Scenarios

Shell Handler

PresentationHost.exe example.xbap

MIME Handler

PresentationHost.exe -embedding example.xbap

Visual Studio Debugging

PresentationHost.exe -debug example.xbap

Visual Studio Debugging In Zone

PresentationHost.exe -debug -debugSecurityZoneURL http://www.example.com example.xbap

See Also

Concepts

Windows Presentation Foundation Security